LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing announced a blockbuster main event for BKB 62 on Saturday, December 5, as former world champions Victor Ortiz and Paulie Malignaggi square off inside the Trigon at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.
It is a dream matchup that many combat sports enthusiasts felt should have materialized during their respective primes as world champions in traditional professional boxing. Years later, Ortiz and Malignaggi will finally share a combat sports ring, but this time they will do so with the gloves completely off as they go head-to-head inside BKB’s signature triangular ring structure, the Trigon. Tickets for the high-profile event are scheduled to go on sale to the general public on October 12 through the official promotion website at bkbbareknuckle.com/bkb62.
The choice of venue adds a layer of classic Hollywood grandeur to the gritty nature of bare knuckle fighting. The Orpheum Theatre, a century-old landmark in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, provides a dramatic backdrop for an organization looking to make a massive splash as the calendar year winds down.
"We’re going to the Orpheum. It’s a 100-year-old theater in downtown LA. It’s going to house BKB in a big way, with Paulie Malignaggi fighting Victor Ortiz. One hell of a fight, should’ve happened years ago in traditional boxing. We’re bringing it to the fans that made LA as special as it was in a really big way," said BKB CEO David Tetreault, highlighting the promotional significance of bringing such high-level combat sports names into a historic, intimate venue.
Victor Ortiz, widely recognized by his moniker "Vicious," enters the bout with a 1-0 record in bare knuckle boxing without a knockout. That single victory came in his promotional debut at BKB 56 in Los Angeles, where he earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Dominick Salcido. Before crossing over into the rapidly growing world of bare knuckle fighting, Ortiz put together a storied career in traditional professional boxing. A former WBC Welterweight World Champion, he once ranked comfortably among the elite tier of the sport’s talent pool. Over the course of his traditional boxing career, Ortiz compiled a professional record of 33 victories, 7 defeats, and 3 draws, with an impressive 25 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Throughout his time at the highest levels of boxing, Ortiz shared the ring with some of the biggest and most recognizable names in the sport, testing his skills against formidable opponents including all-time great Floyd Mayweather Jr., Andre Berto, heavy-handed puncher Marcos Maidana, and former world champion Robert Guerrero. That deep reservoir of high-level experience has prepared him for the unique physical demands of competing without padding on his hands.
"I’ve been in some of the biggest fights of my career, and now I’m ready for a completely different challenge in the Trigon. Paulie is a former world champion with a lot of experience, but this is bare knuckle boxing and I’m coming in prepared to fight. I’m excited to give the fans a great show and show everyone what Vicious Ortiz is all about," said Victor Ortiz, expressing his readiness for the upcoming showdown in his home region.
Across the ring will stand Paulie Malignaggi, a seasoned veteran of the combat sports world who brings more than a decade of top-tier professional boxing experience into the Trigon. Malignaggi holds a professional boxing record of 38 wins and 8 losses, with 7 victories coming by knockout. Known throughout his career for his exceptional boxing IQ, speed, and defensive prowess, the former two-division world champion has faced a murderers’ row of elite competition during his storied tenure in the sweet science. His resume boasts fights against top-tier champions and contenders such as Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter, Zab Judah, Adrien Broner, Amir Khan, and the late, great Ricky Hatton.
Malignaggi is also no stranger to the unique elements of the bare knuckle combat environment, having previously tested himself against some of the discipline’s top competitors. Most recently, he stepped into the ring to challenge Rolando Dy for the BKB Super Welterweight World Championship, further proving his willingness to take on dangerous assignments late in his combat sports journey.
For Malignaggi, this December booking represents a collision with destiny nearly two decades in the making. The stylistic matchup between him and Ortiz was a frequent topic of conversation among boxing writers, pundits, and fans during the peak of their championship reigns.
"Myself and Victor was a fight that was constantly talked about, about 20 years ago, 15 years ago. We were both world champions around the same time, we were among the big names in professional boxing. It didn’t happen then, it almost happened a couple of times, it didn’t happen, and sure enough, life comes full circle. Be ready, Vic. December 5th, I’m coming to your hometown, and I’m taking you out," said Paulie Malignaggi.
BKB 62 serves multiple significant purposes for the organization beyond simply delivering a dream fight to the fans. The event marks the promotional banner’s triumphant return to the Los Angeles market, tapping into a deeply passionate local fanbase that has historically embraced high-profile combat sports events. Furthermore, the December 5 card functions as the penultimate event in what has been a landmark 2026 campaign for BKB, highlighting the organization’s continued growth, expansion, and ability to secure major names from traditional boxing to headline its cards.
As fight night approaches, the promotion has indicated that additional event details, comprehensive ticket purchasing information, and the full lineup of supporting bouts will be announced in the near future.
